If Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer gets the start Saturday night in Boston, he won’t attach a “get even” script to the game.

That story won’t get told unless the Leafs face the Bruins in the playoffs. That’s the same scenario where the Toronto club suffered a historical collapse (Game 7 of the first round last season), so anything less simply doesn’t hold the same significance.

What’s important right now for the Leafs and Reimer is restoring an accountable, consistent level of play that has eluded the club in recent weeks despite a tremendous 10-5 start.

There’s likely to be some question marks and changes over the next two days as Toronto plays back-to-back games against New Jersey and Boston.

Reimer was in goal for that collapse last spring, and coach Randy Carlyle now has a pivotal decision on his plate: does he send Reimer right back in goal for another crack at the Bruins, or does he give that assignment to Jonathan Bernier.

Reimer also has a 4-1-0 record against the Devils, so with the Leafs having five days between games this week and needing to atone for a dismal effort in Vancouver last Saturday, a winning matchup may be all that’s on Carlyle’s mind, not retribution.

Carlyle also has Mark Fraser returning to the defence after a 13-game injury absence, and it appears rookie Morgan Rielly will shift to the press box as a healthy scratch to make room.

Against the drama, though, Carlyle delivered a very serious message to everyone on the team — shape up or sit down.

“We’ve told our players the message will be delivered in a different manner . . . and it’s not just wins, we need more compete level, we need more doggedness around the puck, it all has to go up,” Carlyle said at practice Saturday.

The practice Thursday was an intense affair, with newly signed Jerred Smithson taking over the pivot role on the fourth line as the Leafs weather the loss of their top two centres in Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland.

There was no looking past the Devils Friday night, but there’s no denying the significance of that game in Boston Saturday night.

Reimer’s view — if he gets the start — certainly held the same anticipation of any athlete wanting to face their demons from a previous loss. This time, though, the circumstance of the meeting — in regular season — weighs less than a playoff meeting.

“Sure, any goalie would like to start every game,” Reimer said. “And I’m not saying this game (vs Bruins) doesn’t mean anything, it’s just that in the playoffs, that’s the time for retribution.”

Rielly, meanwhile, appeared to be the odd man out in practice as Carlyle changed up his defensive pairings. Carlyle had Fraser paired with Paul Ranger, who was previously teamed with Jake Gardiner.

Reilly, 18, wound up with John-Michael Liles, who is the seventh defenceman. That pairing suggested Rielly could sit against New Jersey.

“He’s (Rielly) made mistakes, as has every member of our hockey club,” Carlyle said Thursday at practice. “I don’t like to say . . . anything about a player cutting his teeth other than it’s life in the NHL, but we want to make sure Morgan understands that in certain situations, those mistakes won’t be tolerated.”

Carlyle added “the best way to handle it is to tell the young player there’s other players ahead of him.”

Rielly handled a potential healthy scratch with maturity and class; Carlyle had previously said that part of Rielly’s first season in the NHL would include stints as a healthy scratch.

“I’ve been told to play my game and if I make a mistake I have to bounce back from it,” said Rielly, who played a season-low 14 minutes last Saturday in Vancouver.

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